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Sunday, August 28, 2005
Cost of Fuel Effects Hospitals
Hospitals use a large amount of fuel to run ambulances, do health improvement programs in the countryside
and even to heat water to do laundry. The recent increase in fuel cost has had a negative effect on all of the above.
Delta SkyMiles Improves Website
Delta's frequent flyer program (SkyMiles) now has an improved website. Members can redeem miles and
make reservations online to Central America. Availability out of Syracuse is good, especially for last minute flights.
Mid-week flights are more available than weekends.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
SLOW GROWTH, HIGH INFLATION, LOW COMPETITIVENESS
From LatinSource.com, May 2005
Economic stagnation in El Salvador persists. Recent central bank figures show a slow rate of
growth in 2004: 1.5 percent, an even slower pace than the 1.8 percent announced by the government last December. The monthly
index of economic activity shows even worse figures: a contraction of 2 percent YOY, according to figures for January. Agriculture is doing fairly well, having grown 2.7 percent yoy in January.
But manufacturing (–4.1 percent), construction (–20.7 percent) and retail trade (–0.2) are constraining the already insufficient
dynamism of the Salvadoran economy. Their weakness is caused by the threat of China on the local maquila production, the harm
from international price rise of raw materials like oil, and delays in public investment. As mentioned in our previous report,
there is a generalized perception of a reduction in purchasing capacity by Salvadorians, fueled by the tax reform recently
approved, despite the continued increase in foreign remittances. Moreover, between December 2004 and February 2005, around
21,000 jobs have been lost, 70 percent of which correspond to the closure of maquila companies.
One important strength of the Salvadoran economy for the medium and long-term, is the international recognition
derived from economic reforms of the last decade. Thanks to that, El Salvador is the only Central American country with investment-grade
status. The country also has earned praise from the IMF, which stated in a recent report that “…El Salvador has implemented
a wide range of structural reforms over the last decade. Impressive reforms—including trade opening, privatization, and tax
policy, civil service, and pension reform—have been supported by a broad national consensus.” Political conditions are good
and favor the business climate although the lack of dynamism in economic activity is a concern of the international community.
President Antonio Sacca’s efforts to put in effect a program to address poverty problems are admired abroad. About 17 percent
of Salvadorans are even below the line of extreme poverty. Deepening these efforts as well as those to improve competitiveness
and foster economic development are requirements for a new loan from the World Bank for $485 million.
The main problem in the Salvadoran economy continues to be stagnation of economic activity. This is both a short-term
problem and a structural one. As we said in our last report, “… the deterioration in the terms of trade impoverished Salvadoran
population….helps to explain a weak domestic demand and purchasing capacity.” We have also argued that such lack of dynamism
in the economy could be explained in part by a structural element: the choice of the wrong exchange rate when dollarization
was established in 2001.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Archbishop Once Again Speaks Against Violence
El Salvador is one of the most violent of the Central American countries, with about nine murders per day.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Salvador called upon the government to increase efforts to quell this violence.
Speaking at a press conference after mass at the cathedral, Archbishop Lacalle said that the populace must support the government
in the combating violence, much of which begins in the home and in the formation of youth. He called on witnesses to
criminal activity to testify to what they saw. The archbishop restated the church's opposition to capital punishment
and called on the government to set up programs of penal education.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Pedestrian Bridges Increase Safety
Six new pedestrain bridges over busy thoroughfares are being installed in San Salvador. Yesterday
one was dedicated by Carlos Rivas Zamora (FMLN), mayor of the city, over Venezula Boulevard. Pedestrians are not infrequently
injured or killed as they try to cross busy roadways.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Another Blog Site
The blogmaster's church in Wisconsin has a sister church relationship with a small Lutheran community northeast
of San Salvador, and the Milwaukee Lutheran Synod has a companion relationship with the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod. There's
some more about what they are doing at
www.makedisciples.com/Salvador.htm
Thu, August 11, 2005 | link
Will Santa Ana Volcano Erupt
Since about July 27 Santa Ana volcano has been much more gas than usual; there has also been an increase
in seismic activity. On the morning of June 16 there was an emission of ash. Tourists have been advised to be
cautious [on the volcano].
Tuesday, August 9, 2005
You think gas is expensive here?
This week the average price of regular gas in El Salvador is $2.97 per gallon. Fares on the buses
have risen by 50% in the last year creating a considerable burden for the working poor who now pay more than a dollar to get
to work and back home. The wage of the average laborer or factory worker is only one dollar per hour. Even professionals
make only about $3.00 per hour.
Friday, August 5, 2005
Fiestas patronales en San Salvador
Thousands of Salvadorans, many of them praying for the end of violence, participated
this Friday in a procession in honor to the Divine Savior of the World, patron of El Salvador, in celebration of what is known
in North America as The Feast of the Transfiguration.
With branches of multicolored flowers and under an intense sun that forced
many to use their parasols and handkerchiefs, thousands of faithful participated in the celebrations that were led by the
archbishop of San Salvador, Fernando Sáenz Lacalle.
The procession left from the cathedral of San Salvador and processed to the nearby Church the Calvary, a church
in the gothic style that is adjacent to the Central Market of the capital.
A team of twenty men dressed in golden tunics carried a platform adorned with multicolored flowers with
a statue of the Divine Savior.
Every city in El Salvador has a patron saint. The festivals celebrating the saint's day are marked with
religious celebrations, processions and much entertainment including fairs and music.
Música
San Salvador, interpretada por La Fuerza Band (mp3)
El Salvador
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